A Time Capsule

I have never been one to save the original packaging when I buy things. I just got a new iPhone 16 and I did not save the packaging. Ditto when I replaced my MacBook a few years ago. Over the years, I have purchased three cameras new—a Nikon FM2, a Nikon N90s and a Nikon D70. Didn’t save the packaging on any of them. That’s why it is always amazing to me when I find an old camera, still in its original box and with all of the paperwork.

I was not looking for another Nikkormat when this one popped up in my eBay feed. It caught my eye because I like the distinctive gold packaging and bold graphics Nikon used at the time.

Nikkormat FTn, original box, paperwork and packaging

As I clicked through the pictures, I saw it was a late model Nikkormat FTn, fitted with the plastic tipped film advance and self-timer lever. In addition, someone ordered this camera with the split image “K” focusing screen. Most of these Nikkormats had the plain fresnel screen installed. The K screen was a special order. My old eyes really appreciate split image focusing. So much so that I had my current FTn modified by Jim Holman. You can read about that here.

The orange K sticker on the film advance indicates that a split image focusing screen has been installed in this Nikkormat

The seller said the camera was working and the meter was active. The price and shipping were reasonable and the seller had 100% positive feedback. It was hard to resist.

The seller did a great job of packing and shipped promptly. When I opened the package, I was surprised to find the original box in surprisingly good condition. An even bigger surprise was that the original paperwork was still inside and the serial numbers on the packaging, paperwork and box all matched the camera. The camera even had its protective plastic bottom cover, factory body cap, gold JCII Passed sticker and the orange “circle K” sticker indicating that Nikon had installed a split image K screen in this camera.

Box with serial number and indication of K screen

Externally, the camera shows no wear, no scuffs, no bright marks. Even the cameras base plate is pristine. When I opened the camera back, another surprise…

The plastic protective cover for the shutter curtain was still with this camera! The inside of this camera was as clean as the outside. There isn’t even any dust or debris on the focusing screen. I am not certain the camera was ever used.

I popped a 386 battery into a MR-9 battery adapter, fitted my 50mm Nikkor-H f/2 lens to the camera and indexed the lens to the camera body. The little indicator on the lens mount indicated that I had indeed fitted a f/2 lens to the body. I set the ASA (ISO) to 400 and turned on the meter which came immediately to life. I ran the Nikkormat through its range of shutter speeds and they all sounded good. I grabbed my Sekonic hand held meter and my iPhone’s light meter app and compared the light meter readings of the old FTn to the two modern meters. All three agreed.

The Nikkormat FTn was manufactured from 1967 to 1975. The serial number on this camera as well as the film advance, self-timer and focusing screen upgrade indicate that this one was made near the end of the production run. I still find it amazing that a 50+ year old mechanical device not only continues to work this well but that the meter still functions and reads accurately. Even the seals and mirror bumper foam are decent.

When I find a photographic time capsule like this Nikkormat, I wish it could talk so I could ask…”Who bought you? When? Where? And why were you hardly…if ever…used?”

My plan is to run a roll of film through this camera and see how the pictures turn out. My assumption is that it will make good pictures. After that, I will send it out for a good, thorough, 50 year inspection.